Fletching machine

ABSTRACT

A fletching apparatus for arrows includes means feeding unfletched shafts to a chuck device for holding the shaft while a reciprocating carriage surrounding the shaft moves to a first position where one or a plurality of carriage-mounted applicator assemblies each pick up a feather or vane from a continuous feather supply disposed rearward of the chucked arrow nock. The carriage then shifts to a second position locating the applicator assemblies forward of the nock whereupon one or more of the assemblies are actuated to deposit the feather(s) on the shaft concurrently with the actuation of sealing means engaging the base of the feather(s) to attach same to the arrow shaft.

United States Patent 1 [451 Feb. 27, 1973 Bear 1 FLETCHING MACHINE [76] Inventor: Fred B. Bear, Lake Street, Grayling,

Mich. 49738 [22] Filed: April 27, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 248,020

[52] US. Cl. ..29/208 R [51] Int. Cl. ..B23p 19/04 [58] Field of Search..29/208 R, 208 D, 208 C, 200 J, 29/200 P [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,338,772 8/1967 Mcwherter ..29/20o J 3,665,577 5/1972 Dieffenbach ..29/208 D ARROW SHAFT FEED Primary Examiner-Thomas H. Eager Attorney-Emory L Groff ct a].

57 ABSTRACT A fletching apparatus for arrows includes means feeding un-fletched shafts to a chuck device for holding the shaft while a reciprocating carriage surrounding the shaft moves to a first position where one or a plurality of carriage-mounted applicator assemblies each pick up a feather or vane from a continuous feather supply disposed rearward of the chucked arrow nock. The carriage then shifts to a second position locating the applicator assemblies forward of the nock whereupon one or more of the assemblies are actuated to deposit the feather(s) on the shaft concurrently with the actuation of sealing means engaging the base of the feather(s) to attach same to the arrow shaft.

33 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures FLETCHING FEED FROM PUNCH PRESS PATENTEDFEBZ? 1915 3,717. 919

ARROW SHAFT FEED FLETCHING FEED FROM PUNCH PRESS 8| F IG. 2.

l4 ARROW SHAFT FEED 6| 1 s2 I 82 I n9 8 I l8 L 0 3W" x |2| 62 65 e7 63 o 7 6 I. 3 X 8| 20 A $84 t: 5 I:

PATENTED FEBE 7 I973 SHEET 4 OF 6 FIGZ 1 FLETCHING MACHINE This invention relates generally to a fletching apparatus, and more particularly, to a fletching machine adapted to automatically apply, preferably in a simultaneous manner, a plurality of vanes or feathers to an arrow shaft.

The archery industry has long felt the need for a truly automatic device for fletching arrows. True, various types of fletching jigs have been available for some time; yet, even so, the task of fletching an arrow shaft remains quite time-consuming and tedious. Many of the prior known devices require a plurality of sequential manipulations on the part of an operator upon a single arrow shaft during the fletching operation thereupon. It is usually necessary to initially manually insert and correctly position the arrow shaft prior to a plurality of steps attendant with the application of each feather thereupon. Even with the present most modern semi-automatic devices, it is often necessary to employ the services of several operators at several points about the periphery of a larger circular indexing table.

By the present device, arrow shafts to be fletched are automatically delivered to the machine, fed to a clamping device, and retained thereby in a fixed and correctly. aligned manner while a reciprocatingcarriage provided with one or more applicator assemblies automatically moves to an alternate position to pick up the desired number of fletches which are subsequently delivered to the stationary shaft and automatically applied thereto in the correct position and with the proper preferred spiral relationship. Prior to automatic ejection of the fletched arrow other assemblies move into engagement with the deposited fletches to sealingly attach them to the periphery of the shaft.

Although certain concepts taught by components of the present apparatus may be utilized in fletching an arrow shaft "with vanes consisting of numerous types of materials such as paper, plastics, rubber and natural feathers, it is intended that an improved vane material be used with this machine. Presently it is difficult, especially for a large arrow manufacturer, to obtain an adequate quantity and quality of natural bird feathers as called for in the fletching operation, and, even so, many of thoseinitially acceptable must be later rejected after an attempt is made to color them. This latter problem stems from the practice of turkey farmers spraying their birds with protective silicones. Thus it is contemplated that a synthetic feather, comprising a vane of suitable plastic material, be used with this apparatus.

Accordingly, one of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide an improved fletching machine adapted to automatically and simultaneously completely fletch an arrow shaft. t

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved fletching machine'including means for au tornatically clamping an arrow shaft in a pre-selected position while a reciprocating carriage simultaneously applies three feathers thereto. t t

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved fletching machine including a reciprocating carriage having three operating applicator assemblies thereon each of which is adapted to automatically pick up a feather from a supply source,

transfer same to an arrow shaft and subsequently affix same to the shaft by means of three sealing assemblies also carriedby the carriage.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved fletching machine including means for automatically clamping an arrow shaft in a preselected position to permit a reciprocating carriage having one or more feather applicator assemblies to pick up, deliver and apply one or more feathers, respectively, to the shaft.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved automatic fletching machine including a reciprocating carriage adapted to automatically pick up three separate feathers from a source of supply having three feather strips of indefinite length.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved automatic fletching machine including a chuck for receiving an unfletched arrow shaft and having means forautomatically indexing the shaft to insure the proper subsequent relative alignment between the arrow nook and mounted feathers.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved automatic fletching machine including a plurality of vane applicator assemblies each having a pair of vane clamp elements of spiral configuration mounted for both reciprocating and pivotal movement within a carriage surrounding and axially shiftable about a clamped arrow shaft. 1

With these and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved fletching machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged left-hand end elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged front elevation of one of the applicator assemblies carried by the carriage as it appears with its sliding clamp sub-assembly shifted to the retracted position.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 4 with the clamp sub-assembly in the extended position.

FIG. is a partial transverse sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 4 and illustrates the alternate positions of the vane clamp elements carried by the sliding sub-assembly.

FIG. 7 is a rear elevation of one of the applicator assemblies and illustrates the alternate positions of the shiftable clamp elements.

FIG. 8 is a rear petspective of the assembly of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an exploded fragmentary view in perspective of certain of the components found in each sliding clamp sub-assembly.

FIG. 10 is a front elevation of the vane supply and FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the arrow shaft clamping assembly as mounted within the vane supply stand.

FIG. 14 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 14--14 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the arrow shaft chuck.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the jaws of the arrow shaft chuck.

FIG. 17 is a side elevation of one of the vane sealing assemblies.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, particularly FIG. 1, the fletching machine, generally designated 1, will be seen to include a frame 2 comprising a pair of base members 3-3 upon which are supported a plurality of vertical upright frame posts 4, 5, 6 and 7. Each of the frame posts includes a pair of spaced-apart upstanding arms 8-8 defining therebetween a post opening 9 such that it will be seen that this opening 9 in effect extends the entire length of the machine. A rail 10 passes through the upper distal portion of each upstanding arm 8 and may be rigidly mounted in this position by any suitable means.

For a clearer understanding of the structure and operation of the present invention, the areas defined between each pair of opposed upstanding frame posts may be considered operating stations. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, it will be understood that the area between the frame posts 4 and comprises an arrow shaft feed station 11. The next adjacent area between the posts 5 and 6 includes both a vane or fietching mounting station 12 as well as a vane pick-up station '13 depending upon the relative position therein of the vane applicator carriage 14. Finally, between the remaining upright frame posts 6 and 7 will be found the vane supply and arrow shaft clamping station, generally designated 15.

The specific structure of the fletching machine 1 may be conveniently reviewed by following the sequence of operations performed by the above referenced stations. Any suitable well known means such as a hopper may be associated with the arrow shaft feed station 11 in order to deposit upon the inclined feed ramps 16-16 an arrow shaft 17 destined to be fletched by the present apparatus. Preferably, a pair of ramps 16 are employed, each ramp being supported adjacent its upper end by means of a bracket 18 joumaled about the rail with a friction fit so that the lower end of each ramp 16 may be angularly adjusted for reasons which will appear obvious hereinafter.

The outermost feed ramp 16 is provided with an upturned stop end portion 18a upon which one portion of the arrow shaft abuts as it slides by gravity upon the ramps while the other end of the arrow shaft 17 is halted in its downward movement by means of an upstanding stop plate 19 fixedly attached to an arrow feed platform 20 spanning the medial portion of the two frame posts 4 and 5. Stop plate 19 is provided with a notch 21 as shown in FIG. 2 to more positively provide a preliminary alignment of the arrow shaft following its descent along the two feed ramps 16-16. The movability of the ramp brackets 18 enables angular adjustment of both ramp 16 and the stop portion 18a so that when a shaft 17 strikes the notch 21 and stop portion 18a its longitudinal axis will be aligned with the axis of the shaft clamping assembly chuck to be described hereinafter, which axis preferably passes through the horizontal plane extending through the center of the two rails 10. It will be appreciated that the arrow shaft at this point will already have been provided with a conventional nock element 22 having a bow string slot and when the shaft has been dropped to the abovedescribed position, this nock 22 will be disposed slightly to the righthand side of the stop plate 19 as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. The arrow shaft is now ready to be driven into the shaft clamping assembly fonning a part of the vane supply station 15.

Prior to describing the specifics of the components situated in the station 15, additional structure found in the feed station 11 but which is actuated after shifting of the shaft nock end to the station 15 will be mentioned. A movable clamp plate 23 pivotally attached at its lower end to the feed platform 20 adjacent the base of the fixed stop plate 19 is actuated by means of a suitable device such as the fluid or pneumatic cylinder 24 to cause the closing of this plate 23 in a mating relationship with the stop plate 19. The movable plate 23 is likewise provided with a notch 25 which is urged into juxtaposed relationship with the notch 21 of the fixed stop plate 19 to frictionally engage the body of the arrow shaft 17 after it has been axially driven toward station 15 as will later be described.

The vane supply and arrow shaft clamping station 15 includes a fletch or vane supply stand 26 within which is disposed the arrow shaft clamping assembly 27, the central longitudinal axis of which is substantially aligned with the opening provided by the pair of mating notches 21 and 25 as formed by the previously described structure on the arrow feed station 11. The

clamping assembly 27 will be described initially since this structure next comes into play following the feeding of an unfletched arrow into the station 11. The vane supply and clamping station includes a platform 28 spanning-the medial portion of the two frame posts 6 and 7 and upon which is mounted a pair of axially spaced apart standards 29 and 30 as shown most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 10 of the drawings. Axially aligned bores are provided through the upper portions of the two standards 29-30 for the reception of a cylindrical outer or exterior tube 31 which is suitably supported for rotary movement within the standard 29 about a fixed center axis by means of the bearing 32.

The additional structure associated with the clamping assembly 27 may be most readily appreciated by considering the further disclosures of FIGS. 12-16 in connection with the following description. A cylindrical inner or interior tube 33 is closely fitted to provide sliding engagement within the exterior tube 31 and projects a substantial distance from the outboard end of the exterior tube as shown in FIG. 13. Fixedly secured to the outer periphery of the interior tube 33 adjacent its outboard end is a collar 34 having a cylindrical groove 35 formed about its exterior portion. Cooperating with this collar 34 is a yoke 36 having its bottom portion pivotally attached as at 37 to a yoke mounting bracket 38 on the platform 28 while the distal portion of each of the yoke spaced apart arms 3939 are provided with inwardly directed projections 40-40 extending into diametrically opposed points of the collar groove 35 thus providing a close sliding fit therebetween. Intermediate the collar 34 and the outboard standard 30 is a pulley 41 fixedly attached to the outer periphery of the distal portion of the exterior tube 31. Carried by the opposite inboard end of the exterior tube 31 and within the confines of the vane picka length. The rear of the chuck body 43 will be understood to be fixedly attached to the outer periphery of the forward portion of the exterior tube 31 while the forward portion of the body 43 is transversely grooved to provide the diametrically disposed cut-out 45 as shown most clearly in FIG. 15. Mounted within the cutout 45 on opposite sides of the axialbore 44 are a pair of jaws 46 each including a primary arm 47 forming a close sliding fit within each laterally adjacent portion of the cut-out 45 while an offset arm 48 extends inwardly from the forward portion of each primary arm and'terminates in a notch 49. Each jaw is attached to the chuck body 43 by means of a pivot pin 50 passing through the pivot opening 51 extending transversely through the intermediate portion of the jaw primary arm 47 as well as into appropriate pivot pin openings 52 located in the spaced apart segments 53-53 of the chuck body as formed on either side of the diametrical cut-out 45. An important feature of the chuck jaws 46 is the provision of an inner cam surface 54 which will be seen to taper inwardly towards the central axis of the chuck from the rear to the forward portion thereof. Cooperating with these cam surfaces 54-54 are suitable cams 55 carried by a cam support 56 extending outwardly and radially from the periphery of the interior tube 33 as shown in FIG. 13.

The function of the above described structure as well as the additional components forming a part of the arrow shaft clamping assembly 27 may be most readily understood by continuing the description of the operation of the apparatus following the introduction of an arrow shaft 17 to the arrow feed station 11 as illustrated in FIG. 3. With the shaft 17 ready to be delivered from the feed station 1 1 to the clamping assembly 27 of the supply and clamping station 15, it will be understood that suitable means (not shown) are activated to drive abelt 57 sheaved about the pulley 41 in order to rotate the exterior tube 31 and the remainder of the attached components of the clamping assembly 27. It will be noted that the belt 57 slidably engages the pulley 41, that is, upon movement of this belt 57, the pulley 41 and the rotating components of the clamping assembly 27 will be turned until such time as an external resisting force is positively applied to any of the rotating components of the assembly at which time the assembly will cease rotating; however, the belt 57 will continue its driving motion, merely slipping about the periphery of the pulley 41. The referenced outside derstood that the fletching applicator carriage 14 will be located in the right-hand position as indicated by the broken lines in FIG. 3, that is, positioned within station 13. This carriage will be seen to include a pair of spaced apart side plates 61-.-61 while mounted on the outer face of one of the side plates 61 are a pair of arrow feed guide arms 62-63, each of which is pivotally attached as at 64 at its bottom portion to the carriage side plate 61. The upper portion of each guide arm is formed with a semicircular inclined funnel section 65 leading to a notch or semicircular cut-out portion 66 of a slightly largerdimension than the corresponding section of the arrow shaft 17. Each of the guide arms is selectively displaced about its pivot 64 by means of an actuating cylinder 67 carried by the carriage side plate 61. It will be noted that the vertical plane of the guide arms is disposed slightly to the left of the end face of the chuck 42 when the carriage 14 is located in station 13.

When the shaft 17 is in place at station 11 andthe carriage 14 is in the righthand most position, the two guide arm actuating cylinders 67 are operated in order to close the pair of guide arms after which the arrow shaft 17 is delivered from station 1.1 to the clamping assembly 27 located at station 15. This shifting of the arrow shaft may be accomplished by any suitable means such as the reciprocating pusher 68 as shown in FIG. 1 which will be understood to deliver a sharp blow to the forward free end of the arrow shaft thereby axially propelling the shaft through the funnel sections 65 and their opening 66 prior to entry of the shaft nock into the axial bore 44 of the chuck 42. With the nock end 22 of the arrow shaft disposed within the clamping assembly 27, it will be understood that the belt 57 is moving and the lock pin 58 is withdrawn from the de tent of the pulley 41 so that the chuck 42 is rotating. At this point, the two funnel guide arms 62 and 63 are opened by their respective actuating cylinders 67 at the same time as the movable clamp plate 23 is actuated by the cylinder 24 into mating engagement with the stop plate 19 whereupon the arrow shaft 17 will be snugly retained thereby in a clamping yet yieldable manner. The arrow shaft will now be axially aligned with respect to the centerline of the apparatus by means of the mating notches 21 and 25 on the one hand and the axial bore 44 of the chuck 42 on the other hand.

As is well known to anyone skilled in the archery field, the placement of the three vanes or feathers about the periphery of an arrow shaft entails more than force will be seen to be applied by means of a lock pin '58 (FIG. 3) disposed adjacent the periphery of the pulley 41 and which is adapted to be radially displaced either inwardly or outwardly by means of any suitable actuating means such as the fluid cylinder 59. In this manner, by providing a detent 60 in the periphery of the pulley 41 as shown in FIG. 13, it will follow that merely placing these vanes at points spaced from one another. It is necessary to particularly locate the three vanes with respect to the vertical extent of the bow string slot in the free end of the arrow nock 22. Thus, it will be apparent that before the shaft 17 can be locked in a fixed position by the present structure, the shaft must be properly angularly oriented or indexed to insure proper subsequent attachment of the feathers or vanes. It will be understood that the nocks 22 as provided on the arrow shafts utilized in the present invention will be provided with a peripheral axially extending ridge 69 shown most clearly in FIG. 16. Adapted to cooperate with the ridge 69 is in indexing sear 70 carried by the rotatable chuck body 43 and which is shown in detail in FIG. 14 of the drawings. This sear 70 is carried by a sear mount 71 pivotally attached as at 72 to the chuck body and normally spring-urged inwardly by means of a suitable spring 73 such that the tip 74 of the sear will be disposed within the axial bore 44 of the chuck. This tip 74 will be understood to be constructed to provide a positive abutment with the ridge 69 provided on the periphery of the arrow shaft nock and may be beveled as shown in FIG. 14 such that a one-way action is provided, that is, a positive stop between the tip 74 will occur only during relative rotation of the nock ridge and chuck in one direction while in the opposite direction relative rotation between the two com- 69 at which time the arrow shaft will be rotating concurrently with the chuck. Up to this point, the yoke 36 has maintained the interior tube 33 in its most extended position by means of an actuating cylinder 75 bearing upon the yoke intermediate its pivot point 37 and the collar 34 such that the cams 55 controlled thereby are in non-locking engagement with the cam surfaces 54 of the two jaws 46. Now, the yoke actuating cylinder 75 is actuated to permit the yoke spring 76 to collapse or move the interior tube 33 inwardly with respect to the axially fixed exterior tube 31, so that the cams 55 will be urged to bear against the inner cam surfaces 54 of the jaws 46 thereby driving the notches 49 of the jaw arms 48 into tight engagement about the periphery of thearrow shaft, just forward of the nock 22. After clamping of the arrow shaft into the chuck 42, the locator cylinder 59 is actuated to urge its lock pin 58 into engagement with the periphery of the pulley 41 which will continue to rotate as a result of the moving belt 57 until the tip of a lock pin 58 snaps into the pulley detent 60 after which the belt 57 will merely slip about the now stationary pulley 41. With the pulley 41 thus locked, it will follow that the entire arrow shaft clamping assembly 27 will be stationary at this stage and the arrow shaft will be properly centered with respect to its longitudinal axis as well as appropriately indexed with respect to the slot in its nock.

Before a description of the further operation of the apparatus may be followed, there remains the detailed description of the various components forming the applicator carriage 14 as well as the specifics of the vane supply stand 26 which is a part of the supply and clamping station 15. The fletching applicator carriage 14 comprises a pair of cylindrical spaced apart side plates 61-61, each having a large medial opening providing a central cavity 77 adapted to provide adequate clearance for passage of the forwardmost portion of the supply and clamping station 15 when the applicator carriage 14 is moved to the vane pick-up station 13 as shown in F IG. 3. Each side plate 61 is provided with appropriate slide bearings 78 through which the respective rails 10- 10 pass. The two side plates are maintained in a fixed space-apart relationship by means of suitable spreader braces 79 secured thereto and the limits of sliding movement of the carriage 14 between the stations 12 and 13 may be readily controlled by means of adjustable stops 80 located upon the rails 10. To provide the reciprocating motion to the carriage 14 between the stations 12 and 13, a suitable actuating cylinder C is provided. Mounted between the two side plates 61 are three vane applicator assemblies generally designated 81 and which will be seen to be radially disposed about the central cavity 77 in an equispaced manner with respect to one another. As will be apparent from the description hereinafter, each vane applicator assembly 81 includes automatically operable .means for engaging and picking up an individual vane or feather from the supply station 15 and subsequently depositing this vane in the exact prescribed position and spiral manner upon the periphery of the arrow shaft as clamped within the assembly 27 and plates 19 and 23. Also to be considered are the vane sealing assemblies 82 disposed within the applicator carriage 14 intermediate each pair of adjacent applicator assemblies 81 and which are designed to automatically permanently affix the vane elements concurrently with their positioning upon the arrow shaft by the applicator assemblies.

Each applicator assembly 81 includes a peripheral housing 83 which may be removably affixed between the pair of spacedapart carriage side plates 61-61 by any suitable fastening means (not shown) which allows rigid attachment of the assembly 81 yet permits ready removal for any necessary servicing. The housing 83 includes opposite side walls 84-84 joined at the upper or outer end by a top wall 85 and which are suitably connected adjacent the bottom thereof by means of a lower brace 85. This housing 83 will be understood to remain fixed relative to the carriage side plates 61 during operating of the fletching machine while a vertically sliding clamp sub-assembly 87 carried by the housing 83 is alternately reciprocated in a radial manner relative to the center of the cavity 77 during the fletching operation. The sub-assembly 87 includes a top wall 88 disposed between the spaced-apart housing side walls 84-84 and vertically guided for reciprocating motion by means of notches 89 straddling guide bars 90 attached to the inner surface of each side wall 84. Fixedly attached to and depending from the undersurface of the top wall 88 is a clamp mounting block generally designated 91 and which will be seen to be illustrated in detail in FIG. 9. Each of the opposite outer faces 91a of the mounting block 91 serve to support a clamp pivot plate 92 which is generally of U-shape and includes a pair of upstanding spaced-apart side arms 93, 93, the

distal portion of which is pivotally attached as at 94 to a pivot post 95 formed on the outer face 91a of the mounting block 91. As will be seen hereinafter, each pair of clamp pivot plates 92 will be subjected to a limited pivotal movement from a position juxtaposed or flush against the outer face of the mounting block, to a position slightly spaced away from the mounting block at its lower portion. Accordingly, small guide posts 96 are provided on the face of the mounting block and engage the outer lateral periphery of the lower portion of the pivot plate side arms during pivoting thereof about their pivot points 94. Located at the lowermost point of each applicator assembly 81 are a pair of vane clamp elements 97, one of which is attached to the lower portion of each of the clamp pivot plates 92. These vane clamp elements 97 are of blade-like construction and have an overall axial length comparable to that of the particular vane intended to be applied by the fletching machine to the arrow shaft 17 at hand, while the height of each clamp element 97 is likewise preferably no less than the height of the particular vane intended to be applied thereby. An important feature of each of the clamp plates 97 is the spiral configuration thereof along generated upwardly from this bottom edge. To carry through with the spiral mounting of each vane on the shaft, one end 97a of the edge 98 is canted with respect 'to the opposite edge end 97b. Additionally, it is to be noted that a bevel 99 is formed on the outside surface of each clamp plate 97 immediately adjacent its bottom edge 98 and that a knife-like edge 98 is provided for reasons which will become apparent hereinafter.

The vertically sliding sub-assembly 87 is normally disposed in the lowermost position as shown in FIG. and is maintained thusly by means of the drop springs 100 affixed at one end to the sub-assembly top wall 88 and at the other end to a portion of the stationary housing side wall 84. The extent of the normal downward position of the sub-assembly 87 will be defined by means of the limit pins 101 passing through both the housing top wall 85 and sub-assembly top wall 88 and having a lowermost head 102. An exacting adjustment of the lowermost position of the sub-assembly may be readily achieved by the utilization of suitable adjustmentmeans 103 associated with each limit pm 101. 8 During the operation of the applicator carriage 14 as will be described hereinafter, the sub-assembly 87 is alternately elevated by means of a clamp lifting cylinder 104 having one end bearing upon the housing lowerbrace 86 and its operating piston rod 105 acting upon the sliding sub-assembly top wall 88 so that extension of the actuating lifting cylinder rod 105 will cause movement of the sub-assembly to the position as shown in FIG. 4.

A second significant action occurs during the opera- .tion of each vane applicator assembly 81. Means are provided to open and close the two mating vane clamp plates or elements 97. The structure associated with this movement will be most readily apparent from a review of FIGS. 6 and 9 of the drawings wherein it will be seen that the clamp mounting block 91 is provided with a central aperture 106 within which is disposed a scissors block 107 and a clamp opening cylinder 108. This scissors block includes a pair of vertically extending side channels 109 adapted to engage the side walls forming the mounting block apertrue 106 to provide a close vertical sliding fit between the scissors and mounting blocks. Pivotally attached to the lower portion of the scissors block 107 are a pair of operating links 110-110. One end of each of the two links may be connected to the scissors block by means of a common pivot pin 111 as shown in FIG. 6 while the opposite end of the two links 110 extend from within the mounting block aperture 106 to opposite sides thereof where each is respectively pivotally attached to one of i the clamp pivot plates 92 as at 113. The two clamp pivot plates 92 are normally urged into flush engagement with the respective outer surfaces 91a of the clamp mounting block 91 and in this position it will be understood that the two vane clamp elements 97 are in a tight mating engagement. This relationship is maintained by means of a clamp plate limit pin 113 which freely passes through the lower portion of the two pivot plates 92 and is provided with distal enlarged heads 114. Between the inner surface of each limit pin head 1 14 and the outer surface of the juxtaposed pivot plate 92 is a compression or closing spring 115 of sufficient strength to normally maintain the components in the full line position shown in FIG. 6. When the operation of the fletching machine of the present invention calls for opening of the vane clamp elements 97--97, the clamp actuating cylinder 108 is operated at which time its piston rod 116 is extended and moves the attached scissors block 107 downwardly within the mounting block aperture 106 to cause outward displacement of the lower portion of the two operating links 110-l 10, thereby moving the respective pivot plates 92 outwardly together with the attached clamp elements 97, to the broken line position of FIG. 6.

The remaining components located on the applicator carriage 14 comprise a plurality of vane sealing assemblies generally designated 82, one of which is disposed intermediate each pair of adjacent applicator assemblies 81. Each assembly 82 includes a housing 117 adapted to be removably fixed between the spaced apart carriage side plates .61 and which serves to house a shiftable sealing sub-assembly 118 comprising a reciprocating arm 119 controllable by any suitable means (not shown) contained in; the housing 117 to provide selective'extended and retracted positioning of the presser foot 120 carried by the distal portion of the arm 1 19. Projecting from the foot 120 are a pair of contact blades 121-121 which are spaced apart from one another a pre-selected distance determined by the size of the particular arrow shaft 17 being operated upon and the spacing or size of the specific vanes being applied to the arrow shaft. The objective of the sealing assembly 82 is to permanently affix the vanes V to the body of the arrow shaft 17 and it will be'apparent that the attaching concept employed may vary depending upon the composition of the particular vane material being utilized. In the embodiment illustrated in the present drawings, each vane V includes a body portion 122 from which extend a pair of oppositely disposed or diverging feet 123 -123, the latter foot portions at least, comprising a heat sealable composition. Thus, it

course be facilitated if the arrow shaft has been previously coated with a compatible composition intended to enhance the attachment of the vane feet during the application of heat or pressure, or both, by the sealing assemblies 82. Alternatively, the same sealing assemblies 82- may be obviously modified to employ some other principle in the attachment of the vanes V such as by ultrasonic emission.

The remaining major component of the present apparatus comprises the vane supply stand 26 associated with the station 15. The supply stand includes three vane tracks 124 each comprising a planar surface disposed 120 from one another at an equal distance about the axial bore 44 of the clamping assembly chuck 42 and suitably affixed in this position by attachment to the respective standards 29 and 30 as shown most clearly in FIGS. -12. The exterior surface of each vane track 124 is provided with an uninterrupted angled vane feed groove 125 the bottom portion of which is further cut out to provide an opening corresponding to the cross section of the vane strip 126 as shown most clearly in FIG. 12 of the drawings. The plan view of FIG. 3 clearly discloses the angled relationship of the vane feed groove 125, which angle will be seen to correspond to the canted disposition of the bottom edges 98 of the vane clamp elements 97 carried by the applicator assemblies 81.

To prepare the fletching machine for operation, a separate vane strip 126 is fed into the outboard access of each of the vane feed grooves 25 until the forwardmost end of the vane strip is disposed flush with the forward end of the vane track 124 such as shown in FIG. 10. As previously described, the applicator carriage 17 is located in the vane pick-up station 13 prior to driving of an arrow shaft into the chuck 42 of the arrow shaft clamping station 15. With the carriage thus positioned, it will be understood that all three of the applicator assemblied 81 have been simultaneously actuated so as to V retract each of the sliding clamp sub-assemblied 87 to theposition of FIG. 4, with the twovane clamp elements 97 of each sub-assembly being opened by means of the respective cylinders 108. At this point, the spaced apart vane clamp elements 97 will be located to either side of the forwardmost vane V in each vane track feed groove 125 so that when the vane clamp elements are closed, the closing springs 115 thereof will force the clamp elements to tightly engage the outwardly projecting body portion 122 of the three respective vanes V. Subsequently, an appropriate shear 127 is activated to sever the forwardmost vane V from each vane strip 126. Depending upon the specific design of the vane strip 126 being utilized, it will be understood that usually it is only necessary for the shear 127 to sever the foot portions 123 intermediate to body portions 122 in order to completely disassociate the forwardmost vane V from the remainder of the vane strip.

With the three applicator assemblies 81 still in the retracted position of FIG. 4, the carriage 14 is then shifted axially from station 13 to station 12 by means of the shift cylinder C and after the lefthand side plate 61 abuts the stop collars 80 adjacent the frame post 5, the three lifting cylinders 104 of the applicator assemblies are activated in order to extend the three pairs of closed clamp elements 97 with their contained vanes V in a radial direction towards the central longitudinal axis of the machine which corresponds to the central axis of the clamped arrow shaft 17. In this manner, the three vanes will be subsequently automatically urged into contact with the periphery of the arrow shaft and concurrently with this motion, the three intermediate vane sealing assemblies 82 are actuated to extend their shiftable sub-assemblies 118 until the contact blades 121 thereof engage the outer surface of the respective vane feet 123. At this point, the heat and pressure applied by the contact blades 121 will be understood to permanently affix the three vanes V to the arrow shaft in a precise manner with the nock 22 of the shaft being properly indexed relative to the three vanes.

The arrow has now been completely fletched and the assemblies 81 and 82 of the applicator carriage 14 are retracted, following which the clamping elements which served to secure the arrow shaft may be released. This involves actuation of the cylinder 24 to move the clamp plate 23 away from the fixed stop plate 19 on the with the outer end of an ejection 'rod 130 axially disposed within the confines of the clamping assembly interior tube 33. The forward end 131 of the ejection rod thus strikes the nock end of the fletched arrow to propel it clear of the entire fletching machine towards the left hand end thereof. Concurrently with this action the applicator carriage 14 is shifted back to the station 13 as the assemblies 81 and 82 thereon are retracted and at the same time the three vane strips 126 are indexed or advanced the length of one vane V by means of a suitable pusher device 132 which may comprise a pair of clamping shoes adapted to grip one of the upstanding body portions 122 as shown in FIG. 10. The apparatus is now ready to repeat the complete fletching cycle as previously described.

During the description of the specific construction and operation of the fletching machine emphasis has been given to the simultaneous pick-up, transfer and attachment of the three vanes as illustrated in the annexed drawings. However, it will be readily appreciated, as suggested hereinbefore, that the disclosed concept may be applied to attach any other suitable number of vanes to an arrow shaft. For example, the vane supply stand 26 may be provided with four vane tracks 124 while the carriage 14 includes a corresponding number of applicator assemblies 81 and sealing assemblies 82. Furthermore, regardless of the number of applicator assemblies and attendant elements provided, it will be understood that the fletching machine may be selectively operated to fletch but one vane at a time, or any other number of vanes up to the maximum number of assemblies with which the machine is equipped.

What is claimed is:

l. A fletching machine for applying vanes to an arrow shaft comprising, clamping means for holding an unfletched shaft in an axially and angularly fixed position, a carriage having a plurality of vane applicator assemblies therein, shifting means for axially displacing said carriage from a vane mounting station wherein said applicator assemblies are radially juxtaposed one end of said shaft when held by said clamping means to a vane pick-up station wherein said applicator assemblies are disposed beyond said one end of said shaft, supply means for delivering a plurality of vanes to the pick-up station, each said applicator assembly including a pair of vane clamp elements, actuating means operable to open and close said clamp elements as said carriage shifts between said stations to transfer vanes from said supply means to said shaft held by said clamping means, and sealing means carried by said carriage operable toattach said vanes to said shaft.

2. A fletching machine according to claim 1 including, a frame supporting a pair of parallel spaced apart rails, and said carriage is slidably mounted on said rails.

3. A fletching machine according to claim 1 wherein, said carriage includes a side plate having a central opening whereby, said shaft when held by said clamping means is axially disposed through said side plate.

4. A fletching machine according to claim 1 wherein, each said applicator assembly includes second actuating means operable to radially displace said clamp elements relative to said shaft held by said clamping means.

5. A fletching machine according to claim 1 wherein, said sealing means includes a radially displaceable presser foot disposed adjacent each said applicator assembly.

6. A fletching machine according to claim 1 wherein, said clamp element actuating means comprises a fluid cylinder on said applicator assembly.

7. A fletching machine according to claim 1 wherein, each said applicator assembly includes a removable housing, a slidable sub-assembly mounted in said housing, said vane clamp elements and actuating means carried by said sub-assembly, and second actuating means between said housing and sub-assembly operable to radially displace said clamp elements relative to said shaft held by said clamping means.

8. A fletching machine according to claim 1 includ ing, a shaft feed station adjacent said vane mounting station, said feed station provided with an inclined ramp, shaft stop means adjacent the lower portion of said ramp, said clamping means including a shaft clamping assembly, a chuck in said clamping assembly provided with an axial bore extending into said vane pick-up station, and pusher means operable to engage the forward end of a shaft abutting said stop means to deliver the rear end of said shaft into said chuck bore.

9. A fletching machine according to claim 1 wherein, said vane supply means includes a vane supply station axially adjacent said vane pick-up station, said vane supply station having a plurality of vane tracks each provided with a longitudinal groove adapted to receive a vane strip comprising a continuous length of vane bodies having diverging feet, and pusher means engageable with said strip to sequentially advance single vanes to said pickqup station.

10. A fletching machine according to claim 1 whereimsaid shaft clamping means includes a clamping assembly provided with a chuck extending into said pick-up station, said clamping assembly having an exterior tube journalled for rotation and supporting said chuck at its inner end, drive means engaging said exterior tube, jaws carried by said chuck, and means within said exterior tube operable to actuate said jaws when said exterior tube and chuck, are both rotating and stationary.

11. A fletching machine accordingto claim 4 wherein, said clamp -element actuating means and said second actuating means are fluid cylinders.

12. A fletching machine according to claim 5 wherein, said presser foot includes a pair of spaced apart depending contact blades.

13. A fletching machine according to claim 7 including, a slidable scissors block carried by said sub-assembly and operable by said clamp element actuating means, a pair of pivot plates carried 'by said sub-asattached to said block with the opposite end of each said link pivotally attached respectively to said pivot plates.

14. A fletching machine according to claim 7 wherein, each said clamp element is longitudinally spirally curved. t

15. A fletching machine according to claim 8 wherein, said shaft clamping means further includes a clamp plate pivotally attached to said shaft feed station adjacent said stop means, and actuating means connected to said clamp plate to urge same towards said stop means.

16. A fletching machine according to claim 8 including, a pair of guide arms pivotally attached at one end to said carriage, actuating means joined to said arms to urge the free ends thereof into and out of mutual engagement, and a funnel section on each said arm facing said feed station.

17. A fletching machine according to claim 9 wherein, said vane track grooves are each angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the machine.

18.'A fletching machine according to claim 9 including, a shear adapted to sever one vane from each vane strip, said shear passing substantially transversely through each said track groove.

19. A fletching machine according to claim 10 wherein, said means within said exterior tube includes an interior tube having an inner end disposed within said chuck and an outer end projecting from said exterior tube, cams in said chuck engageable with said jaws to open and close same as said interior tube is axially shifted, a yoke engageable with said interior tube outer end and actuating means operable to shift said yoke, interior tube and cams.

20. A fletching machine according to claim 10 including, a slidable and axially extending ejector rod within said clamping assembly having a front end disposed within said chuck and a rear end projecting from the opposite end of said clamping assembly, and actuating means engageable with said rod rear end.

21. A fletching machine according to claim 10 wherein, the end of said shaft engageable within said chuck is provided with a nock element having a lateral ridge, and indexing means in said chuck engageable with said shaft ridge during rotation of said exterior tube.

22. A fletching machine according to claim 14 wherein, the axis of each said clamp element is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the machine.

23. A fletching machine according to claim 21 wherein, said chuck indexing means comprises a spring-urged sear.

24. A fletching machine according to claim 21 including, lock means between said drive means and exterior tube operable to halt rotation of said chuck.

25. A fletching machine for applying a vane to an arrow shaft comprising, clamping means for holding an unfletched shaft in an axially and angularly fixed position, a carriage having a vane applicator assembly thereon, shifting means for axially displacing said carriage from a vane mounting station wherein said applicator assembly is radially juxtaposed one end of said shaft when held by said clamping means to a vane pickup station wherein said applicator assembly is disposed beyond said one end of said shaft, supply means for delivering a vane to the pick-up station, said applicator assembly including movable vane clamp elements, actuating means operable to open and close said clamp elements as said carriage shifts between said stations to transfer a vane from said supply means to said shaft held by said clamping means, and'means carried by said carriage operable to affix said vane to said shaft.

26. A fletching machine according to claim 25 wherein, said applicator assembly includes second actuating means operable to radially displace said clamp elementsrelative to said shaft held by said clamping means.

27. A fletching machine according to claim 25 wherein, said applicator assembly includes a removable housing, a slidable sub-assembly mounted in said housing, said'vane clamp elements and actuating means carried by said sub-assembly, and second actuating means between said housing and sub-assembly operable to radially displace said clamp elements relative to said shaft held by said clamping means.

28. A fletching machine according to claim 25 including, a shaft feed station adjacent said vane mounting station, said feed station provided with an inclined ramp, shaft stop means adjacent the lower portion of said ramp, said clamping means including a shaft clamping assembly, a chuck in said clamping assembly provided with an axial bore extending into said vane pick-up station, and pusher means operable to engage the forward end of a shaft abutting said stop means to deliver the rear end of saidshaft into said chuck bore.

29. A fletching machine according to claim 25 wherein, said shaft clamping means includes a clamping assembly provided with a chuck extending into said pick-up station, said clamping assembly having an exterior tube joumalled for rotation and supporting said chuck at its inner end, drive means engaging said exterior tube, jaws carried by said chuck, and means within said exterior tube operable to actuate said jaws when said exterior tube and chuck are both rotating and stationary.

30. A fletching machine according to claim 27 including, a slidable scissors block carried by said sub-assembly and operable by said clamp element actuating means, a pair of pivot plates carried by said sub-assembly, said clamp elements attached to said pivot plates, and a pair of links each having one end pivotally attached to said block with the opposite end of eac link pivotally attached respectively to said pivot plates.

31. A fletching machine according to claim 29 wherein, said means within said exterior tube includes an interior tube having an inner end disposed within said chuck and an outer end projecting from said exterior tube, cams in said chuck engageable with said jaws to open and close same as said interior tube is axially shifted, a yoke engageable with said interior tube outer end and actuating means operable to shift said yoke, interior tube and earns.

32. A fletching machine according to claim 29 including, a slidable and axially extending ejector rod within said clamping assembly having a front end disposed within said chuck and a rear end projecting from the opposite end of said clamping assembly, and actuating means engageable with said rod rear end.

33. A fletching machine according to claim 29 wherein, the end of said shaft engageable within said chuck is provided with a nock element having a lateral ridge, and indexing means in said chuck engageable with said shaft ridge during rotation of said exterior tube. 

1. A fletching machine for applying vanes to an arrow shaft comprising, clamping means for holding an unfletched shaft in an axially and angularly fixed position, a carriage having a plurality of vane applicator assemblies therein, shifting means for axially displacing said carriage from a vane mounting station wherein said applicator assemblies are radially juxtaposed one end of said shaft when held by said clamping means to a vane pick-up station wherein said applicator assemblies are disposed beyond said one end of said shaft, supply means for delivering a plurality of vanes to the pick-up station, each said applicator assembly including a pair of vane clamp elements, actuating means operable to open and close said clamp elements as said carriage shifts between said stations to transfer vanes from said supply means to said shaft held by said clamping means, and sealing means carried by said carriage operable to attach said vanes to said shaft.
 2. A fletching machine according to claim 1 including, a frame supporting a pair of parallel spaced apart rails, and said carriage is slidably mounted on said rails.
 3. A fletching machine according to claim 1 wherein, said carriage includes a side plate having a central opening whereby, said shaft when held by said clamping means is axially disposed through said side plate.
 4. A fletching machine according to claim 1 wherein, each said applicator assembly includes second actuating means operable to radially displace said clamp elements relative to said shaft held by said clamping means.
 5. A fletching machine according to claim 1 wherein, said sealing means includes a radially displaceable presser foot disposed adjacent each said applicator assembly.
 6. A fletching machine according to claim 1 wherein, said clamp element actuating means comprises a fluid cylinder on said applicator assembly.
 7. A fletching machine according to claim 1 wherein, each said applicator assembly includes a removable housing, a slidable sub-assembly mounted in said housing, said vane clamp elements and actuating means carried by said sub-assembly, and second actuating means between said housing and sub-assembly oPerable to radially displace said clamp elements relative to said shaft held by said clamping means.
 8. A fletching machine according to claim 1 including, a shaft feed station adjacent said vane mounting station, said feed station provided with an inclined ramp, shaft stop means adjacent the lower portion of said ramp, said clamping means including a shaft clamping assembly, a chuck in said clamping assembly provided with an axial bore extending into said vane pick-up station, and pusher means operable to engage the forward end of a shaft abutting said stop means to deliver the rear end of said shaft into said chuck bore.
 9. A fletching machine according to claim 1 wherein, said vane supply means includes a vane supply station axially adjacent said vane pick-up station, said vane supply station having a plurality of vane tracks each provided with a longitudinal groove adapted to receive a vane strip comprising a continuous length of vane bodies having diverging feet, and pusher means engageable with said strip to sequentially advance single vanes to said pick-up station.
 10. A fletching machine according to claim 1 wherein, said shaft clamping means includes a clamping assembly provided with a chuck extending into said pick-up station, said clamping assembly having an exterior tube journalled for rotation and supporting said chuck at its inner end, drive means engaging said exterior tube, jaws carried by said chuck, and means within said exterior tube operable to actuate said jaws when said exterior tube and chuck are both rotating and stationary.
 11. A fletching machine according to claim 4 wherein, said clamp element actuating means and said second actuating means are fluid cylinders.
 12. A fletching machine according to claim 5 wherein, said presser foot includes a pair of spaced apart depending contact blades.
 13. A fletching machine according to claim 7 including, a slidable scissors block carried by said sub-assembly and operable by said clamp element actuating means, a pair of pivot plates carried by said sub-assembly, said clamp elements attached to said pivot plates, and a pair of links each having one end pivotally attached to said block with the opposite end of each said link pivotally attached respectively to said pivot plates.
 14. A fletching machine according to claim 7 wherein, each said clamp element is longitudinally spirally curved.
 15. A fletching machine according to claim 8 wherein, said shaft clamping means further includes a clamp plate pivotally attached to said shaft feed station adjacent said stop means, and actuating means connected to said clamp plate to urge same towards said stop means.
 16. A fletching machine according to claim 8 including, a pair of guide arms pivotally attached at one end to said carriage, actuating means joined to said arms to urge the free ends thereof into and out of mutual engagement, and a funnel section on each said arm facing said feed station.
 17. A fletching machine according to claim 9 wherein, said vane track grooves are each angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the machine.
 18. A fletching machine according to claim 9 including, a shear adapted to sever one vane from each vane strip, said shear passing substantially transversely through each said track groove.
 19. A fletching machine according to claim 10 wherein, said means within said exterior tube includes an interior tube having an inner end disposed within said chuck and an outer end projecting from said exterior tube, cams in said chuck engageable with said jaws to open and close same as said interior tube is axially shifted, a yoke engageable with said interior tube outer end and actuating means operable to shift said yoke, interior tube and cams.
 20. A fletching machine according to claim 10 including, a slidable and axially extending ejector rod within said clamping assembly having a front end disposed within said chuck and a rear end projecting from the opposite end of said clamping assembly, and actuating meanS engageable with said rod rear end.
 21. A fletching machine according to claim 10 wherein, the end of said shaft engageable within said chuck is provided with a nock element having a lateral ridge, and indexing means in said chuck engageable with said shaft ridge during rotation of said exterior tube.
 22. A fletching machine according to claim 14 wherein, the axis of each said clamp element is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the machine.
 23. A fletching machine according to claim 21 wherein, said chuck indexing means comprises a spring-urged sear.
 24. A fletching machine according to claim 21 including, lock means between said drive means and exterior tube operable to halt rotation of said chuck.
 25. A fletching machine for applying a vane to an arrow shaft comprising, clamping means for holding an unfletched shaft in an axially and angularly fixed position, a carriage having a vane applicator assembly thereon, shifting means for axially displacing said carriage from a vane mounting station wherein said applicator assembly is radially juxtaposed one end of said shaft when held by said clamping means to a vane pick-up station wherein said applicator assembly is disposed beyond said one end of said shaft, supply means for delivering a vane to the pick-up station, said applicator assembly including movable vane clamp elements, actuating means operable to open and close said clamp elements as said carriage shifts between said stations to transfer a vane from said supply means to said shaft held by said clamping means, and means carried by said carriage operable to affix said vane to said shaft.
 26. A fletching machine according to claim 25 wherein, said applicator assembly includes second actuating means operable to radially displace said clamp elements relative to said shaft held by said clamping means.
 27. A fletching machine according to claim 25 wherein, said applicator assembly includes a removable housing, a slidable sub-assembly mounted in said housing, said vane clamp elements and actuating means carried by said sub-assembly, and second actuating means between said housing and sub-assembly operable to radially displace said clamp elements relative to said shaft held by said clamping means.
 28. A fletching machine according to claim 25 including, a shaft feed station adjacent said vane mounting station, said feed station provided with an inclined ramp, shaft stop means adjacent the lower portion of said ramp, said clamping means including a shaft clamping assembly, a chuck in said clamping assembly provided with an axial bore extending into said vane pick-up station, and pusher means operable to engage the forward end of a shaft abutting said stop means to deliver the rear end of said shaft into said chuck bore.
 29. A fletching machine according to claim 25 wherein, said shaft clamping means includes a clamping assembly provided with a chuck extending into said pick-up station, said clamping assembly having an exterior tube journalled for rotation and supporting said chuck at its inner end, drive means engaging said exterior tube, jaws carried by said chuck, and means within said exterior tube operable to actuate said jaws when said exterior tube and chuck are both rotating and stationary.
 30. A fletching machine according to claim 27 including, a slidable scissors block carried by said sub-assembly and operable by said clamp element actuating means, a pair of pivot plates carried by said sub-assembly, said clamp elements attached to said pivot plates, and a pair of links each having one end pivotally attached to said block with the opposite end of each link pivotally attached respectively to said pivot plates.
 31. A fletching machine according to claim 29 wherein, said means within said exterior tube includes an interior tube having an inner end disposed within said chuck and an outer end projecting from said exterior tube, cams in said chuck engageable with said jaws to open and close same as said interior tube is axialLy shifted, a yoke engageable with said interior tube outer end and actuating means operable to shift said yoke, interior tube and cams.
 32. A fletching machine according to claim 29 including, a slidable and axially extending ejector rod within said clamping assembly having a front end disposed within said chuck and a rear end projecting from the opposite end of said clamping assembly, and actuating means engageable with said rod rear end.
 33. A fletching machine according to claim 29 wherein, the end of said shaft engageable within said chuck is provided with a nock element having a lateral ridge, and indexing means in said chuck engageable with said shaft ridge during rotation of said exterior tube. 